The Guard's website, sepahnews.com, says members of the group were identified outside Iran and arrested after entering the country. It said authorities confiscated equipment including roadside and magnetic bombs as well as coded communications equipment. The arrests were made in Iran's oil-rich Khuzestan province, which borders Iraq.

Monday's report didn't provide further details but said those arrested have confessed to their links to intelligence agencies backed by Iran's "ultra-regional enemies" — a reference to the United States. The report said the group had planned to sabotage and bomb key facilities.